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WORKSHOP: Conflict Management for Undergraduate Engineering Students

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Conference

2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference

Location

Arlington, TX, Texas

Publication Date

March 9, 2025

Start Date

March 9, 2025

End Date

March 11, 2025

Page Count

27

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/55092

Paper Authors

biography

Jonathan Weaver-Rosen Texas A&M University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-1087-5452

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Jonathan Weaver-Rosen is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University since August 2021. His research has focused largely on design automation and methodologies – specifically parametric optimization and the design of morphing or otherwise adaptive systems. His passion for teaching lies in preparing future design engineers to properly utilize analysis tools and work effectively as part of a team.

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biography

Carlos R. Corleto P.E. Texas A&M University

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BS, MS, PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. Experience includes 20 years in industry as a lab director, technical manager and engineering advisor, 8 years of academic experience at the assistant and tenured associate professor level, 4.5 years as a professor of practice, Undergraduate Program Director of the J. M. Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering since June 2022, and active industry consultant. Author and contributing author of 10 patents and multiple publications/presentations at technical and engineering education conferences. Areas of expertise and research interest include, Deformation & Failure Mechanisms, Materials Science, Fracture Mechanics, Process-Structure-Property Relationships, Finite Element Stress Analysis Modeling & Failure Analysis, ASME BPV Code Sec VIII Div. 1 & 2, API 579/ASME FFS-1 Code, Materials Testing and Engineering Education. Professionally registered engineer in the State of Texas (PE).

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Shadi Balawi Texas A&M University

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Dr. Balawi is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at Texas A&M. He teaches in the areas of materials, manufacturing, and design. His interests are in the areas of Engineering Design for Disciplinary STEM Educational Research, Team Formation and Team Skill Education. Dr. Balawi earned his PhD in Aerospace Engineering from University of Cincinnati with research focus on experimental design and testing of solids for honeycomb core materials.

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Mohammad Waqar Mohiuddin Texas A&M University

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Possesses a multidisciplinary background in Mechanical Engineering (BS and MS) and cardiovascular physiology (Ph.D.). Currently working as an Instructional Associate Professor in the J Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Areas of expertise and interest include biomedical and mechanical system design, electromechanical systems, computer-aided engineering analysis, and mathematical modeling of physiological systems. Before joining Texas A&M, worked in industry settings to develop various biomedical technologies, ranging from acute neonatal care to long-term space exploration.

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Joanna Tsenn Texas A&M University

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Joanna Tsenn is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. She earned her B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. She coordinates the mechanical engineering senior capstone design program and teaches senior design lectures and studios. Her research interests include engineering education with an emphasis on capstone design and teamwork.

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Abstract

The ability to work effectively in teams is important to the success of engineering projects. In many collegiate engineering programs, students are expected to work in teams throughout the curriculum starting as freshman and culminating in their senior capstone design project. However, the focus on technical knowledge and skills often means that students are not formally taught best practices for teamwork. Instead, students are expected to develop these skills in situ through team projects. This approach does not benefit all students as some experience dysfunctional teams without learning how teams are supposed to work. These students may enter the workforce without effective teamwork skills and with a negative attitude towards teamwork. Therefore, the “Undergraduates Improving Teamwork Skills” (UNITES) team has developed three teaching modules to help students develop practical teamwork skills in their undergraduate curriculum. The three UNITES training modules are aimed at helping students develop practical teamwork skills in their sophomore, junior, and senior years. Each module focuses on a different teamwork aspect and is taught during one class lecture. Module 1 is taught in a sophomore-level course and focuses on the stages of team development and setting expectations through a team charter. Module 2, taught in a junior-level course, addresses the importance of effective communication and awareness of different working styles for team success. Module 3, taught in a senior-level course, addresses understanding and managing team conflicts. The implementation at Texas A&M University also involves assessment and student feedback, including short reflection surveys about students’ learning experience in each module and post-project surveys to evaluate and understand team experiences.

This workshop aims to introduce the UNITES project, share its implementation to date, and conduct an active learning demonstration of Module 3, which is taught in a workshop-style format in the classroom. Like the students, workshop participants will start by roleplaying a conflict with healthy and unhealthy aspects. Participants will test their knowledge of the Thomas-Kilmann conflict mode instrument and watch a video on identifying unhealthy conflict and getting the conversation started with the STATE method for having crucial conversations. Finally, participants will reflect on the roleplaying conflict and complete the Dutch test for conflict handling. Participants will discuss their results and complete a short reflection activity. The workshop will close with a discussion of the UNITES project to obtain feedback to improve the project and how it may be implemented in the participants’ engineering curricula.

Weaver-Rosen, J., & Corleto, C. R., & Balawi, S., & Mohiuddin, M. W., & Tsenn, J. (2025, March), WORKSHOP: Conflict Management for Undergraduate Engineering Students Paper presented at 2025 ASEE -GSW Annual Conference, Arlington, TX, Texas. https://peer.asee.org/55092

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